Icing resistant reduced noise air motor exhaust

ABSTRACT

The induction exhaust has an exhaust manifold  16  and a muffler  22 . In the instant invention, warm ambient air is drawn into the muffler  22 . Heat from this external source is conducted through the finned manifold  16  to melt ice that can form inside the manifold  16  during the exhaust cycle. The exhaust manifold  16  bolts to the side of the air motor air valve  14  and serves to direct, muffle and diffuse the air motor exhaust using a deflection plate, a diffraction plate and an expansion chamber is provided in the manifold to direct the exhaust out of the air valve and down the center of the muffler  22.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 60/820,405, filed Jul. 26, 2006.

BACKGROUND ART

While reciprocating air motors are well suited for operating reciprocating piston pumps, they can at times suffer from exhaust noise and a tendency to have ice build up in the air valve and/or exhaust passages due to the rapid expansion of the exhaust. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,408 is one such attempt to improve operation and the contents thereof are incorporated by reference.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The induction exhaust has an exhaust manifold and a muffler. In the instant invention, warm ambient air is drawn into the muffler. Heat from this external source is conducted through the finned manifold to melt ice that can form inside the manifold during the exhaust cycle.

The exhaust manifold directs the exhaust air stream into the muffler such that it creates a thin high velocity air stream creating a low pressure region on both sides of the stream due to the Bernoulli effect. This low pressure region creates a pressure differential which draws the warm external air into the exhaust system. The more external air that is drawn in, the more that icing will be reduced. This requires minimizing downstream exhaust pressure.

Minimizing downstream exhaust pressure, however, can lead to higher noise levels. In order to reduce noise, a reverberation chamber is added after the muffler exit allowing the sound waves to disperse over time while minimizing backpressure. Reciprocating air motors have a short (15-50 msec.) blast of noise and the reverb chamber reduces peak levels and increases the duration of the noise. The chamber also has a capacitance function which minimizes downstream exhaust pressure.

The exhaust manifold bolts to the side of the air motor air valve and serves to direct, muffle and diffuse the air motor exhaust using several components. A deflection plate disperses the initial exhaust blast as it leaves the air valve and enters the exhaust manifold. The deflection plate partially deflects the port noise and slows down and spreads out the tightly focused blast thereby reducing noise and exhaust velocity. A diffraction plate in the exhaust manifold diffracts and disperses the exhaust blast through many small holes rather one larger cross-section again reducing noise and exhaust velocity. An expansion chamber is provided in the manifold to direct the exhaust out of the air valve and down the center of the muffler. The muffler cross-section is also split into an expansion chamber and a nozzle with the expansion chamber allowing the exhaust blast to expand and dissipate before exiting the manifold through the diffraction plate and nozzle.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section f the air motor and in particular the exhaust system thereof.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The air motor 10 of the instant invention has a piston 12 and an air valve 14. The induction exhaust has an exhaust manifold 16 and a muffler 22. In the instant invention, warm ambient air is drawn into the muffler 22. Heat from this external source is conducted through the finned manifold 16 to melt ice that can form inside the manifold 16 during the exhaust cycle.

The exhaust manifold 16 directs the exhaust air stream into the muffler 22 such that it creates a thin high velocity air stream creating a low pressure region on both sides of the stream due to the Bernoulli effect. This low pressure region creates a pressure differential which draws the warm external air into the exhaust system. The more external air that is drawn in, the more that icing will be reduced. This requires minimizing downstream exhaust pressure.

Minimizing downstream exhaust pressure, however, can lead to higher noise levels. In order to reduce noise, a reverberation chamber 26 is added after the muffler 22 exit allowing the sound waves to disperse over time while minimizing backpressure. Reciprocating air motors have a short (15-50 msec.) blast of noise and the reverb chamber reduces peak levels and increases the duration of the noise. The chamber also has a capacitance function which minimizes downstream exhaust pressure.

The exhaust manifold 16 bolts to the side of the air motor air valve 14 and serves to direct, muffle and diffuse the air motor exhaust using several components. A deflection plate disperses the initial exhaust blast as it leaves the air valve and enters the exhaust manifold. The deflection plate partially deflects the port noise and slows down and spreads out the tightly focused blast thereby reducing noise and exhaust velocity. A diffraction plate in the exhaust manifold diffracts and disperses the exhaust blast through many small holes rather one larger cross-section again reducing noise and exhaust velocity. An expansion chamber is provided in the manifold to direct the exhaust out of the air valve and down the center of the muffler. The muffler cross-section is also split into an expansion chamber and a nozzle with the expansion chamber allowing the exhaust blast to expand and dissipate before exiting the manifold through the diffraction plate and nozzle.

It is contemplated that various changes and modifications may be made to the exhaust system without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. An exhaust for use with a reciprocating air motor having an air valve, said exhaust comprising: a finned exhaust manifold; a muffler; air passages for drawing warm ambient air into said muffler so that heat from said warm ambient air is conducted through said finned manifold to melt ice that can form inside the manifold during the exhaust cycle.
 2. The exhaust of claim 1 wherein said manifold directs the exhaust air stream into said muffler such that it creates a thin high velocity air stream creating a low pressure region on both sides of the stream due to the Bernoulli effect creating a pressure differential which draws the warm external air into the exhaust system.
 3. The exhaust of claim 1 further comprising a reverberation chamber after the muffler exit allowing the sound waves to disperse over time while minimizing backpressure.
 4. The exhaust of claim 1 wherein said exhaust manifold bolts to the side of said air motor air valve and serves to direct, muffle and diffuse the air motor exhaust.
 5. The exhaust of claim 1 further comprising a deflection plate for dispersing the initial exhaust blast as it leaves said air valve and enters said exhaust manifold.
 6. The exhaust of claim 1 further comprising a diffraction plate comprising many small holes in said exhaust manifold to diffract and disperse the exhaust blast to reduce noise and exhaust velocity.
 7. The exhaust of claim 1 further comprising an expansion chamber in said manifold to direct the exhaust out of said air valve and down the center of said muffler. 